[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[26686]
No. 1.
[August 6.]
SECTION 38281
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received August 6.) (No. 150. Secret.) (Telegraphic.) P.
RECEIVED Peking, August 6, 1906.
I COMMUNICATED the contents of your telegram No. 138 privately to Tong, who made a careful note of them and expressed himself pleased at His Majesty's Government's favourable attitude.
He felt confident that he could satisfy a financier as regards security, but had no authority to say anything definite. He said that, besides an Imperial guarantee, there were certainly available the customs residue and unhypothecated li-kin, which would furnish, he estimated, 3,000,000. He gave a guarded hint respecting the land tax, which produces 13,000,000, according to him. He pointed out that the customs revenue, which I reminded him was fully pledged, was rapidly increasing.
So far, I personally consider, the Customs Administration has not been tampered with by Tong; and, at any rate for the present, he will, I think, be careful to avoid any action which foreign Governments might subject to adverse criticism.
In respect to preliminary Agreements, I believe him to be genuinely opposed to the repudiation movement, though he is anxious to secure the best terms, and is excessively tenacious of what he considers to be China's rights.
[2102 f-1]
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[26686]
No. 1.
[August 6.]
SECTION 38281
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received August 6.) (No. 150. Secret.) (Telegraphic.) P.
RECE
Pra 17 00) 06
I COMMUNICATED the contents of your telegram No. 138 privately to Tong,
Peking, August 6, 1906. who made a careful note of them and expressed himself pleased at His Majesty's Government's favourable attitude.
He felt confident that he could satisfy a financier as regards security, but had no authority to say anything definite. He said that, besides au Imperial guarantee, there were certainly available the customs residue and unhypothecated li-kin, which would furnish, he estimated, 3,000,000. He gave a guarded hint respecting the land tax, which produces 13,000,000, according to him. He pointed out that the customs revenue, which I reminded him was fully pledged, was rapidly increasing.
So far, I personally consider, the Customs Administration has not been tampered with by Tong; and, at any rate for the present, he will, I think, be careful to avoid any action which foreign Governments might subject to adverse criticism.
In respect to preliminary Agreements, I believe him to be genuinely opposed to the repudiation movement, though he is anxious to secure the best terms, and is excessively tenacious of what he considers to be China's rights.
[2102 f-1]
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